University

Ft ranking, SDA Bocconi first in the world for tailor-made programmes for companies

Among the criteria evaluated are the quality of teaching, the internationality of the programmes and feedback from clients. Polimi School of Management in the European top 30

by Pietro Menzani

18 May 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

SDA Bocconi School of Management is first in the world for custom programmes in the 27th edition of the Financial Times Executive education rankings. In the ranking dedicated to open-enrolment programmes, dominated by the London Business School, it ranks 13th. Positive results also for the School of Management of Politecnico di Milano, which, compared to last year, improves its ranking by entering the world top 50 in both rankings.

The rankings were compiled on the basis of data from schools and their customers referring to 2025. The rankings assess numerous parameters, including the quality of teaching, the effectiveness of teaching methods and materials, and the relevance of the skills the course provides. The internationality of participants and programmes, the quality of the schools' partners and feedback from participants were also taken into account.

Custom Ranking

This is the first time SDA Bocconi has topped the Financial Times rankings for custom programmes, training experiences designed to meet the needs of the companies that commission them. The ranking includes the world's top 100 custom programmes.

In 2025, the school was in third place, preceded by the London Business School (Lbs) and the International Institute for Management Development (Imd) in Lausanne, Switzerland, which had topped the list. This year the same schools made it onto the podium, but the positions changed: Bocconi first, Lbs second and Imd third.

The Polimi School of Management, on the other hand, takes 41st place, climbing 26 places since 2025 and thus entering the European top 30. Among the world's top 50 is also the Bologna Business School (45th), while the Luiss Business School ranks 70th and Escp, which has a campus in Turin, sixth.

A Roma la MBA International Week 2025 della Luiss Business School

The words of the dean of SDA Bocconi

A note published on the school's website states that the success achieved in the rankings "testifies to our ongoing work alongside companies and organisations in co-designing training experiences capable of responding to changing business needs". The result, in fact, according to SDA Bocconi, "reflects the quality of the programmes implemented" and the solidity of the partnerships forged over the past year with numerous global organisations operating in different sectors.

The dean of the School of Management at Milan University, Stefano Caselli, said that 'this result is valuable because it reflects the trust that companies, financial institutions and public administration place in us. We do not conceive customised training as a service to be provided, but as a process to be built together to enhance the growth of human capital. Our customers bring questions, constraints and ambitions. We contribute teachers, methods and a structured approach. The result is something that neither party could develop alone'.

Open programmes

SDA Bocconi, on the other hand, is ranked 13th in the ranking for open-enrolment programmes - management training courses for professionals and companies -, losing one position compared to 2025. The ranking, which includes the 90 best schools in the world, is led by the London Business School, followed by Hec Paris and Iese Business School, part of the Spanish University of Navarra.

Here too, the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano clearly improves its ranking, taking 43rd place. In 2025 it was in 57th place. A good result also for the Bologna Business School, which ranks 61st, 11 places higher than last year, when it was ranked 72nd. The Luiss Business School, on the other hand, does not appear in the top 90.